Luminaire



Feb; 17, 1942. F. c. WINKLELR ET'AL LUMINAIRE Filed Dec. 13, 1939INVENTORS Frederzz' 6f h/znl ler WITNESSES:

Patentecl Feb. 17, 1942 LUMINAIRE Frederic C. Winkler, Lakewood, andAndrew De Vries, Cleveland, Ohio, assignors to Westinghouse Electric &Manufacturing Company, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation ofPennsylvania Application December 13, 1939, Serial No. 309,004

8 Claims.

Our invention relates, generally, to luminaries, and, more particularly,to luminaries of the pendant type suitable for commercial lightingapplication and for use with incandescent Bipost lamps, or lamps ofsimilar construction.

In attempting to adapt luminaries, of more 01' less conventional design,which have been designed for use with pear shaped incandescent lamps ofthe ordinary type, commonly known as PS lamps, for use with Bipost lampswhich have been placed on the market in recent years, considerabledifficulty has been experienced in de signing a suitable socket andreflector arrangement for use with these lamps.

These problems arise from the fact that the so-called Bipost lampdifiers considerably in construction from the ordinary PS lamp, and isconsiderably smaller in size for the same wattage. The PS lamp comprisesa hermetically sealed glass bulb or envelope containing a filament and aseparate, unitary base attached to the neck portion thereof by cement orthe like, the base usually being'threaded to engage the socket. Asdistinguished from this, the Bipost lamp comprises an elongated glassenvelope closed at one end, the open end being closed by a glass topthrough which the two metal contact prongs or pins extend. The prongs orpins are sealed into the glass cover portion of the envelope andfunction to conduct current to the filament, and also to support thelamp from the socket in a downward vertical position,

The PS lamp is also provided with a mica disc near the base whichfunctions to direct the heat from the filament into the glass bulbrather than through the base. The Bipost lamp does not have a mica disc,and therefore, the heat from the filament rises and is dissipatedthrough the base and prongs. Because of this construction and the factthat 'it is necessary to operate the lamp in a downward verticalposition, the major portion of the heat produced by the lamp, which is aconsiderable amount in the 750 and 1000 watt sizes, is dissipatedthrough the glass top and prongs of the lamp. This high heat dissipationand the way in which it is dissipated give rise to many problems in thesuccessful use of this lamp in luminaries and especiallyin luminaries ofthe commercial type wherein it is necessary to support the lamp and asuitable reflector froma hanger attached to the ceiling or otheroverhead supporting surface.

In attempting to use this lamp with ordinary conventional designs ofsocket and. husk conprovisions are made in the construction of thelighting fixture and especially in the construction of the socket andhusk assembly, the lamp prongs will freeze in the socket, the insulationon the lead-in wires will become charred, and the wire itself becomeoxidized. Various attempts have been made to overcome these problems byventilating the socket husks, but this was found not to be the solution,as the heat generated by the lamp was not effectively controlled to suchextent as to eliminate freezing of the contact prongs in the socket andthe deterioration of the leadin Wires.

Accordingly it is an object of our invention, generally stated, toovercome these problems and defects in the prior units and to provide aluminaire which may be successfully used with Bipost lamps, or lamps ofsimilar nature, regardless of size, and which is of simple andeconomical construction.

A more specific object of our invention is to provide for controllingthe heat produced by a Bipost lamp, or the like, in luminaires so as toprevent freezing of the contact prongs of the lamp in the socket and anyappreciable deterioration oi the wiring of the fixture.

A further object of our invention is to provide a husk and socketassembly for use in luminaires with Bipost lamps, or the like, whichshall function to reduce the heating effect of the lamp on the engagingcontact members of the socket and the lamp prongs to such an extent asto prevent freezing thereof and deterioration of the contact members andthe lead-in wires.

Another object of our invention is to provide a husk construction foruse in luminaires with Bipost lamps, or the like, which shall not onlycooperate with the lamp socket to reduce the heating effect of the lampon the contact elements of the socket, but which shall also function toproduce an airmovement around the lamp to carry the heat generatedthereby away from the portion of the husk which encloses the socket andother parts which may be subject to damage and deterioration whenexcessively heated.

A further object of our invention is to provide a luminaire foreliminating the upward flow of heated air through the tubular hanger orsupporting stem thereby to prevent the deposit of dirt and other foreignmatter on the ceiling or other supporting surface.

These and other objects of our invention will structions, it has beenfound that, unless special become more apparent from the followingdetailed description when read in conjunction with the drawing, inwhich:

Figure 1 is an elevational view, partly in section, showing a luminaireembodying the principal features of our invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view in elevation, partly in section, of thesocket and husk assembly of the luminaire of Fig. 1 showing details ofthe construction thereof;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged View of the lower end of the hanger stem;

Fig, 4 is a vertical section View of the lava plug which is disposed inthe lower end of the hanger stem as shown in Fig. 3, and

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the lava plug of Fig. 3.

The principal feature of our invention resides primarily in theconstruction of the socket and husk assembly of the fixture. The huskproper may be of the bullet-type design, preferably spun from aluminum,and provided with an extension in the form of a shield ring at thebottom, also formed of aluminum. The lamp socket is preferablyconstructed of porcelain in one piece and is cylindrical in shape. Asocket cap is provided for attaching the socket to the end of the hangerstem. In the preferred embodiment the outside diameter of the socket ismade very nearly the same as the inside diameter of the husk proper toprovide a close fit therebetween when in an assembled condition, inorder to prevent the passage of any appreciable amount of heated airbetween the socket and husk. In other words, in a construction of thiskind the husk must hug the socket. The extension or shield ring portionof the husk is of larger diameter than the husk proper, and ispreferably connected thereto by welding it to downwardly extending earsformed on the bottom of the husk proper, thereby leaving open spacesbetween the upper end of the shield ring and the bottom edge of the huskproper for the purpose of producing air movements or circulation aroundthe lamp. The shield ring also functions to shield the upper portion ofthe lamp from view to permit the use of a shallow reflector and alsofunctions to support the reflector or basin assembly Another feature ofthe preferred construction is the use of a suitable plug in the hangerstem through which the electrical conductors extend r to the socket. Theplug is preferably made of a suitable heat resisting material and soshaped as to cooperate with the conductors to seal the stem against theupward passage of heated air therethrough.

Referring to the drawing, the luminaire of our invention comprises,generally, a canopy l0, stem II, socket l2, husk l3, lamp [4, andreflector or basin 1 5. The canopy l0 and stem l l are of the usualconstruction, the stem being of tubular form through which the insulatedlead-in conductors 16 extend to the socket I2.

The socket l2 may be of any suitable type so long as it is soconstructed that it will support a and conduct current to a lamp of theBipost type. The body portion of the socket may be made of any suitableheat-resisting insulating material, such, for example, as porcelain, andmay be attached to the lower end of the stem l l by means of the adapteror bracket H, which is secured to the body portion by means of thescrews I8 extending therethrough as shown. The adapter I] is providedwith a threaded sleeve portion is which engages the threaded end portionof the stem H and may be locked therewith by means of the set screw 2|.

The socket I2 is further provided with terminals 22 and 23 and a pair ofcontact elements 24! and 25, the terminals and contact elements beingelectrically connected in any suitable manner. The socket is alsoprovided with a pair of locking clips 26 and 21, which are utilized tohold the lamp in the socket.

As pointed out hereinbefore, the lamp I4 is of a type of constructionwhich produces a relatively large amount of heat for its size, ascompared to that which is produced by an ordinary incandescent Mazdalamp of the same wattage and which also dissipates the major portion ofthis heat through the base and contact prongs. The envelope of the lampI4 is composed entirely of glass, and the lamp also has a glass base 29which normally engages, or is in close proximity to, the bottom part ofthe socket l2, as shown clearly in Fig. 2. The lamp is further provided'with a pair of terminal prongs 3!, which are attached to or extendthrough the base 29 and which function both to support the lamp in adownward vertical position and to conduct current to the filamentthereof.

Since the socket must embody metallic contact elements for supportingand conducting current to the lamp, it has been found necessary toprovide for protecting these elements against the excessive amount ofheat developed to not only prevent deterioration of the elementsthemselves, but also to prevent the contact prongs of the lamp fromfreezing to these contact elements, and also to prevent the heat fromdestroying the insulation on the lead-in wires.

It is to this problem that our invention is particularly directed, andone way in which it has been solved is in the design of the husk l3 andthe particular manner in which it is associated with the socket E2,

The problem has been solved in this particular instance by associatingthe husk l3 and socket l2 together in such a way as to purposely provideagainst any ventilation thereof. One way in which this may beaccomplished is to construct the husk IS in such manner that when it ismounted on the stern H in the usual way the interior portion thereof isin close engagement with the exterior portion of the socket.

In the embodiment shown, the husk is of bullet-shape design, and issupported in the desired position over the socket l2 by means of a shortlength of tubing 33 surrounding the lower end of the stem as shown, thetubing resting on the sleeve [9, and the constructed end of the huskresting upon the other end of the tubing.

In order to prevent the passage of heated air upwardly through the stemH, a plug 34 of heatresisting material may be disposed in the lower endthereof. This is shown best in Fig. 3, the detail construction of theplug being shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the plug is of an elongated cylindricalconstruction, preferably composed of lava or similar material, and isprovided with opposite longitudinal grooves 35 in the sides thereof toreceive the lead-in wires, as shown in Fig. 5.

The way in which the plug 34 is used is shown in Fig. 3, the plug beingmerely inserted within the lower end of the stem H with the lead-inwires l6 extending through the grooves 35 as shown. It will be apparentthat if the plug is so constructed that it interfits closely with theinterior of the tube and the lead-in wires substantially fill thegrooves, it, together with the lead-in wires, will function asan'eifecti've blocking means against the upward passage of heated airthrough the stem and thereby eliminate the depositing of dirt or otherforeign matter on the I ceiling or other supporting surface.

In order to provide for cooling the lamp 14 as much as possible and alsoto provide a light shield about the upper end thereof, the husk I3 isprovided with an offset extension or shield ring 35 which, in thisinstance, has an inside diameter larger than the outside-diameter ofthehusk to provide a considerable space betweenthe shield ring and the lampas shown. The extension .36 may be secured to the lower edge of thehusk'by means of the downwardly extending offset ears 31 formed on thehusk body which may be attached to the extension by welding or in anyother suitable manner. In this instance, the off set ears 3'! are fourin number and are equally spaced about the circumference of the ,husk inorder that openings will be provided between the lower edge of the huskand the upper edge of the extension 36. As will be readily understood,this provides a chimney-effect through which heated air may circulateupwardly along the upper part of the lamp in order to ventilate and coolthe lamp as much as possible.

The extension 36 may also be utilized to directly support the reflectorbasin I5 by means of the rods 38 as shown. In this embodiment of theinvention, the reflector basin 1.: is of the totally indirect type,being constructed entirely of a suitable metal, such, for example, asalumiimity to the tip of the lamp as shown. It is to be understood,however, that any other type of basin, such for example, as a glassbasimmay be used if desired. i

In view of the foregoing description, it will be apparent that theinvention provides a luminaire which may be utilized with a Bipost lamp,and which will effectively prevent the relatively large amount of heatdeveloped by a lamp of this kind from damaging the contact elements ofthe socket or any other part of the fixture which necessarilymust beplaced in such position as to be exposed to this heat.

Since certain Changes may be made in the above-described constructionand different emtion of the lamp and open at both ends to produce aircirculation about the base of the lamp adjacent the lower end of thesocket, and a reflector basin supported beneath the lamp from saidcylindrical extension member.

2. A luminaire comprising, a support stem, a socket attached to thebottom of the stem for supporting and conducting current to a Bipostlamp, a husk mounted on the stem and extending downwardly over thesocket and terminating adjacent the lowerend thereof, the joint betweenthe side walls of the socket and husk being substantially closed'so asto prevent the circulation of any appreciable amount of heated airupwardly therebetween, a cylindrical member of greater diameter than thehusk attached to the lower-end of the husk at spaced points to provideopenings therebetween for the upward circulation of air between theupper portion of the lamp and the said member, and a reflector basinsupported beneath the lamp from the cylindrical member, said cylindricalmember extending downwardly and in spaced relation about the upperportion of the lamp to shield said lamp from view over the rim of thereflector basin.

3. A luminaire comprising, a tubular support stem, a lamp socketattached to the lower end of the stemfor supporting and conductingcurrent to a lamp, electrical conductors extending through the stem tothe socket, a husk mounted on the stem and enclosing the top and sideportions of the socket, the joint between the side walls of the socketand husk being relatively tight to prevent circulation of anyappreciable amount of heated air from the lamp therebetween, and plugmeans inserted within the lower portion of the stem to prevent upwardflow of heated air through the stem about the conductors, thereby toprovide for reducing the operating temperature of the socket andconductors.

4,. A luminaire comprising a tubular support stem, means for attachingthe stem to a support- 'ing means, a lamp socket detachably secured tothe lowerend of the stem for supporting and consaid socket havingterminal members to which i said conductors are attached and alsocontact bodlments of the invention may be made without departing fromthe spirit thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in theabove descrip-- tion or shown in the accompanying drawing shall beinterpreted as illustrative and not in a limitciable amount of heatedair therebetween, a cylindrical extension member of larger diameter thanthe husk attached to the bottom of the husk in spaced relation theretoand to the upper porelements for engaging the contact prongs of thelamp, a husk element mounted on said stem for enclosing the top and sideportions of the socket, said husk element and socket being disposed inclose interfitting relation so as to prevent any appreciable amount ofupward circulation of heated air from the lamp therebetween, anda plugmember of heat-resisting material disposed within the stem andcooperating with said conductors to block the passage through the stemagainst the circulation of heated air from the lamp therethrough,thereby to reduce the operating temperature of the socket and conductorsto a degree such as will prevent damage thereto through overheating.

5. A luminaire for use with incandescent lamps of the Bipost type whichconstitute relatively concentrated sources of heat, comprising a tubularsupport stem, a lamp socket attached to the lower end of the stem forsupporting and conducting current to the lamp, said socket having a bodyportion of insulating material and metallic terminal members and contactelements mounted thereon, a pair of insulated conductors extendingthrough the stem to the terminal members of the socket, a plug member ofheat-resisting material disposed in said stem adjacent the lower endthereof,'a husk element mounted on the stem and enclosing the socket,said husk element and socket being disposed in such interfittingrelation as to preclude any substantial upward circulation of heated airfrom the lamp therebetween, an extension for said husk attached to thelower end thereof in offset relation to provide openings therebetween,said extension extending downwardly from the lower edge of the huskabout the upper portion of the lamp and in spaced relation thereto toprovide for the circulation of air therebetween, and a reflectorsupported from the husk extension beneath the lamp.

6. A luminaire for use with incandescent lamps of the Bipost typeconstructed in the form of a glass envelope with contact prongs attached(iirectly to the envelope comprising, a tubular supporting stem, asocket attached to the lower end of the stem, said socket having aheat-resisting body portion on which contact elements for engaging thelamp prongs are mounted and also terminals for connection to the lead-inconductors which extend through the stem, a husk mounted on the stem forenclosing the socket, said husk and socket being cooperatively disposedto prevent any appreciable circulation of heated air from the lampupwardly therebetween, an offset extension attached at spaced intervalsto the bottom of the husk to provide a light shield about the upper endof the lamp, a lava plug member disposed in the lower end of the stemand functioning together with the lead-in conductors to prevent heatedair from passing upwardly through the stem, and a reflector basinsupported beneath the lamp from the husk.

7. The combination with a Bipost incandescent lamp having contact prongsin the base thereof and which constitutes a relatively concentratedlight source producing a relatively large amount of heat, of a socketfor supporting and conducting current to the lamp, said socket having abody portion constructed of heat-resisting material and metallic contactelements carried thereby, said contact elements being disposed toreceive the contact prongs of the Bipost lamp and thereby be subjectedto the heat produced by the lamp, a tubular stem for supporting thetions of the socket, said husk element extending only to the lower edgeof the socket, the inside dimensions of the husk being such that it fitsclosely about the outside surface of the socket so as to prevent theupward passage of any appreciable amount of heated air between it andthe socket whereby the operating temperature of the socket is maintainedbelow a value which would otherwise be destructive to the contactelements of the socket and the electrical conductors to which it isnormally connected, and an extension member having inside dimensionsgreater than the outside dimensions of the lower end of the husk elementattached in spaced relation to the lower end of said husk element toprovide openings therebetween and extending downwardly from the huskelement about the upper portion of the lamp, said extension memberfunctioning to produce a circulation of air about the lamp.

8. In combination, a lamp socket for supporting and conducting currentto an incandescent lamp having contact prongs, said socket comprising aninsulating body portion with metallic contact elements supported therebyfor receiving the contact prongs of the lamp, a husk element enclosingthe top and side walls of the socket, said husk element terminating atthe lower end of the socket, the joint between the side walls of thebody portion of the socket and husk being relatively tight so as toprevent the upward circulation therebetween of any appreciable amount ofheated air from the lamp, whereby the operating temperature of themetallic contact elements is maintained at a non-destructive value, andan extension member of larger size than the outside dimensions of thehusk element open at both ends and attached in spaced relation to thelower edge of said husk element to provide openings therebetween andextending downwardly in a position to surround the upper portion of thelamp for producing a circulation of air about the lamp.

FREDERIC C. WINKLER. ANDREW DE VRIES.

